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Professor Ana Aslan and Gerovital-H3, the
Original and First Anti-Aging Medicine
By Mircea Dumitru MD Ph.D. (by Ana Aslan's
personal physician).
Who was Ana Aslan?
Ana Aslan is renowned for her essential contribution to gerontological
research as well as for having patterned the best geriatric
treatment influencing the aging process. Ana Aslan was the
first person to rule out the fatalistic approach to aging,
providing a new method in gerontology by opening the way to
the prevention and treatment of old age.
I worked with Professor Ana Aslan for 25 years, from 1963,
first as a researcher, then as chief physician and afterwards
as the Director of the National Institute of Gerontology and
Geriatrics in Bucharest, Romania, between 1978 and 1990.
In the last 3 years of her life, Aslan chose me as her personal
physician and three months before her death she asked me to
do some personal things, including to write a book about her
life and her work. So I took notes at her bedside as a moral
testament.
In addition to her life, she talked of her views of politics,
religion, euthanasia, dying, death and love. As such I had
the opportunity to know her private thoughts and personal
thinking.
On her 90th solemn birthday celebration at the Romanian Academy
in Bucharest on May 22nd, 1987, on behalf of the Romanian
National Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, I said;
"I want to express my emotion and say how difficult it
is to talk about Ana Aslan, being such a complex personality,
the story of Gerontology might as well be the story of Aslan."
"Ana Aslan's life can be seen in her work. She has battled
courageous fights, all for the service of good, to make man's
dream to live with dignity for as long as possible. Now we
celebrate the inventor, the scientist, the physician, and
the professor. For 35 years since 1952, she has led us as
the first Institute of Gerontology in the world. Ana Aslan
is the Ambassador of Gerontology and a brilliant woman.
As a scientist she is an inventor, not an imitator. She has
played such an important role in Gerontology at the world
level. She has given the world decades of research that revealed
that Gerovital-H3 is the most effective treatment in geriatrics.
Ana Aslan is the original contributor in the basic research
concerning cellular and molecular aging, and researching her
product reaction in the body.
She has a special empathy for the elderly and has always fought
to improve their condition all over the world. She worked
with others to initiate the General Assembly of the United
Nations Organization on aging, held in Vienna, 1983. Aslan
has a remarkable understanding and appreciation for beauty
and culture. At one time she visited Hippocrates grave and
on which she stated, "I now realize how small I am."
As a disciple and collaborator, and being inspired by the
University Hymn, I declare "Viva Academia! Viva Professores!
Viva Ana Aslan!"
Aslan's distinctions
1. Commander of the order "Meritor Della Republica,"
Italy, 1969
2. Commemorative Gold Medal, Nicaragua, 1971.
3. Cross of Merit, first class Order of Merit, Germany, 1971.
4. Hero of Socialist Labor, Romania, 1971.
5. "Augusto Pinaud," Medal, Venezuela, 1972.
6. Cavalier de la Nouvelle Europe, Prize Oscar, Italy, 1973.
7. Knight of the Order "Les Palmes Academiques,"
France, 1974.
8. International Prize, "Eva," Italy, 1974.
9. Commander of the Order "De Orange Nassau," Holland,
1975.
10. "L'Ordre du Merite," Grande Officier, Senegal,
1976.
11. "Dag Hamarskjoeld," International Prize, Italy,
1977.
12. "Dama di Collare Del Santo Graal," Nice, 1978
(granted by Italy)
13. Honorary Foreign Citizen and Honorary Professor of Sciences,
Manila, Philippines, 1978.
14. President and Honorary Guest of the Symposium, "Ageing
Comes of Age," Philippines Academy, Philippines Association
of Geriatrics and Gerontology, 1978.
15. Officer of the Order "Merito Della Republica Italiana,"
1979.
16. La Medaille et le Prix "Leon Bernard" La 35eme
Assemblee Mondiale de la Sante, 1982.
Aslan is quoted in all of the following
Who's Who in America (1972) Who's Who in the World (1971)
Who's is Who of Women (1971) British Encyclopaedia (1974)
Who's Who of Intellectuals (1976) The International Men of
Achievement (1976) International Biographical Association
of England (1978)
Dr. Dumitru comments
We are witnessing a spectacular alteration of the age pyramid.
Furthermore the process of the demographic aging of the population
will continue to increase in the coming decades. I feel obliged
to sound an alarm at the apparition of this phenomenon unique
in human history, at least in relation to how the appropriate
tactics and strategies should be adopted.
Human society has the duty to benefit in an organised way
from the knowledge, experience, wisdom and the free time of
the elderly.
Activity, as a way of life for aging and aged people, creates
for them a mental and physical well being, changing old age
into a useful period, not only at the individual and family
level, but at the social level too.
The traditional image of the elderly incapable of working,
needing help, care and with a tendency for solitude is being
reevaluated. Elderly people do not appear as a homogenous
category of population, but as a very heterogeneous one, from
the demographic, medical and social standpoint.
The concept of the "elderly" from the social standpoint
is becoming outworn and out-of-fashion, and is frequently
considered in a merely functional sense related to the elderly's
capacity of assuming a role in the community.
Interdisciplinary researches are apt to offer solutions for
promoting an Active Old Age. As a supporter of an optimistic
conception of the third age, in the data that I am submitting,
I will propose measures to forming a new attitude towards
this last stage of life.
"The everlasting ageless youth" has always been
one of the great desires and concerns of mankind. Especially
in the latter decades, if the thoughts of the last thousand
years were put into a microscopic lens then the complex equation
of human aging would begin to reveal some of its unknown values,
however man cannot accept the idea of aging and death.
I have discussed the topics of aging and old age with my patients
during the last 40 years of my pregeriatric and geriatric
practice; these years having been dedicated to scientific
research relating to the aging diseases; their prevention
and treatment.
I worked for 25 years at the National Institute of Gerontology
and Geriatrics in Bucharest, of which I was the Director and
the closest coworker of the famous Romanian physician- Ana
Aslan for 11 years. I have had the opportunity to examine
patients of different ages from all over the world, to know
their thoughts, their concerns and their varied questions.
For example, I've talked with many young people, for whom
aging, death and disease were states, which they hadn't accepted
yet as a possibility during their life. Other young people
I have dealt with had diseases and pain and wished an end
as quickly as possible. Some considered that they ought to
try everything as soon as possible and had no respect for
their health.
Some women believed the menopause was the starting of their
old age and other healthy old (often-centenarian) people who
were in full activity pleaded for the beauty of this age and
regarded life from the height of their wisdom. Of course there
were also their children abandoned those elderly who had severe
chronic diseases and were living alone having. All this has
been a fantastic lesson for my pregeriatric and geriatric
practice.
But only fate made me the personal physician of Professor
Ana Aslan during the last three years of her life. During
this time we became closer in spirit and in our long conversations
she shared many of her private thoughts of her life experience
fighting against old age and its sufferings.
Asking her many questions that I was concerned about gave
me the opportunity to learn the convictions of one of the
most famous personalities in the world, her ideas were pioneering
in the fascinating field of Gerontology and Geriatrics.
In the afternoons and in the evenings on the terrace of her
apartment at the Otopeni Clinic, (where she was convalescing),
she told me her thoughts, and interrupted only by nightingale
trills, she talked of the 84 countries she had visited. The
people, their cultures, the famous personalities she'd met,
and normally, about the history of her only son- Gerovital-H3-
the product that could improve the quality of life.
After 40 years of age (which is a critical period from a biological
point of view), many people begin to ask; "What is old
age? What about the aging process? How can we fight against
it? Can old age be delayed or prevented? What are the factors
accelerating the aging process? Should we learn to die? Has
a person the right to dispose of his or her own life and decide
when the end is to be? What about sexual activity in old age?
Can it be improved? How will relations between the generations
be affected? What is the older persons role in society and
family?" and so on.
My understanding of the concerns of gerontology schools in
the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France and Romania
regarding the "Life Extension Research" and from
my geriatric practice, in time, I appreciated that "those
good habits" give strength and active life in aging.
Today we have discovered what was originally thought to be
a compulsory condition of old age, namely the presence of
heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, depression. Presently
and especially in the near future these are (and will) no
longer are the facts of aging. Everything depends on the way
you live from birth to death and what kind of supplements
you are taking.
The behaviour is based on the way of thinking to remain young,
on the strategy to fight against gaining weight, to prevent
paralysis, to fight against the stress and to maintain a young
at heart spirit.
In the following pages, I will try to answer some of these
questions and to draw the way to live, remain active and to
retain dignity in older age.
"To grow old in a beautiful and dignified way is at the
same time a science and an art." Ana Aslan.
The aging process and old age
Ana Aslan remembered with pleasure a question asked by many
reporters and research workers; "What made you in the
1940's- when very few people thought about geriatrics- dedicate
yourself to the study of aging and to the care of old people?"
Ana Aslan's answer was always full of nostalgia; "At
the age of 50 I changed my career and I started another life
dedicated to Geriatrics. I was a specialist in Internal Medicine
and Cardiology and in 1945 on January 1st, I received a congratulation
card, which I keep with my precious possessions. This card
was signed by many of my patients who wrote- On the occasion
of your birthday a group of old patients, some of life's broken
toys, wish you good health and many happy years! - I read
and re-read- these words many times and they continued to
stir me and even to obsess me. I told myself, that in fact,
these broken toys could be mended, and I wondered what help
I could give old people? Those words and that card, together
with the impulse given by one of my professor's, were the
seed which sprang in my mind and made me dedicate the rest
of my life to the study and treatment of old people. It was
the elderly showed me that TIME is the killer of organic substance
and it puts its definite imprint on the human organism."
In our contemporary society, we are witnessing two essential
tendencies, the aging population and the technical progress.
The understanding of demographic tendencies, therapy and recovery
from the diseases of old age are priority problems with economical,
political and social implications.
Each of us is a witness to a spectacular increase of the average
life span, which increased from 40-50 years in the last century,
and now, to more than 78 years old. Grandfathers take care
of their grandchildren, and their great grandchildren, and
they share with them their life experience, a feat not possible
before in the history of mankind.
In the year 2000 those over 60 years old will represent 15-20%
of the total population of the earth. The rate of those over
65 increased from 200 millions in 1950's to 400 millions in
1985, and to an estimated 600 millions in 2000, and to more
than 1 billion in 2025!
What are the implications of the presence of such a segment
of elderly within the population? Should they stay outside
of the normal social life? The answer to these questions has
an impact not only on Gerontology, but in philosophy, religion,
politics and economy too. Geriatrics deals with the medicine
for the elderly, and Gerontology studies the modifications
of the human organism in time, as such Gerontology can define
the aging process and can distinguish between aging and disease.
Alone they cannot answer and solve the fundamental aging questions,
but together they become a powerful science.
* Aging is a plurality of normal changes of mankind due to
the lapse of time, the change in the frame of mind and in
the physical condition of each of us. * Disease is an accident,
a pathological process, abnormal, which can occur occasionally
in childhood, adulthood and is not compulsory in old people.
Disease can be prevented, treated, or if it becomes chronic
it can be alleviated. Disease can also often hide aging and
for this reason we should pay attention to the change due
to time "per se."
The aging process is suggestively illustrated in Figure 4.
It shows the increasing presence of aging from the period
of embryo, childhood, adulthood and into old age. In this
conception, old age is the last period of the life, when the
aging signs become evident; signs such as the gerontoxon (or
arcus senilis), a degenerative change in the cornea occurring
in persons over the age of 50 and the ceasing of the menstrual
cycle etc.
For the reader it is very important to know that aging is
subjected to the influence of genetic and environmental factors.
Under the influence of these factors, the aging rhythm can
be normal, accelerated, or delayed.
Each person has his or her own biological clock, which can
function normally, or it may have an accelerated or delayed
function.
The nutrition, physical, environmental factors, way of life,
presence or absence of diseases, stress and the eutrophic
treatment with Gerovital-H3 influences the aging rhythm.
After the age of 40, the proportion between muscular and fat
tissue changes. Around the age of 60- 30% of the muscular
mass is replaced by fat tissue. The articular flexibility,
muscular strength, pulmonary ventilation, vascular elasticity
and cardiac efficiency decrease with advancing age.
Visual acuity and ovarian function are among the first changes,
which announce the period of senescence. In bone structure,
important changes take place, which should be prevented with
the necessary steps.
At the age of 65 we can no longer do what we did at the age
of 30 and this fact we all understand.
Old age is often a "state of mind" and the human
spirit is the strongest treatment, which should be fed with
understanding, useful constructive work, love, tolerance,
kindness and friendship.
Old age can be a period of pain, loneliness and disease, with
high medical cost and social complexity; Grieg described it
as "diminishing also has its beauty," Juvenal however,
said, "old age is worse than death."
In everyday life, in literature, in fairy tales, old age aureole
is not missing. In popular wisdom, the old man appears as
a positive character, kind and clever. The elderly are capable
of useful activities for themselves and for others, they can
solve difficult situations, to value their creativity. They
are a treasure of wisdom and preserve a "living history,"
they are the keepers of history, and by vocation, character
and inspired choice, become as much important as inventors.
When I asked Aslan, "what is aging and old age and how
do we fight it?" she answered, "Old age is full
of suffering and pain and I regard this as a parasite of life
which develops slowly and whether you know it or not, it takes
hold of us. From the age of 50 onward, I declared war on aging
and old age. Gerontology and Geriatrics have enough possibilities
to slow down the aging process and to delay old age onset.
We are obliged to guard against and to explain to healthy
or sick patients, what it means to grow old, and what they
have to do in order to extend their life in conditions of
quality. My treatment and my method is a solution, Gerovital-H3
is not only a treatment, it is hope, and when there is no
hope, there is nothing."
Ana Aslan's incredible adventure
(IN HER OWN WORDS) "I accepted that I had to leave Bucharest
in order to be by myself. This was not easy for me, but in
those years, the air that I was breathing was not enough.
Brilliant lights are attractive to creative spirits, but they
can also deprive you of sight.
The magnificent oaks have too much shade, and under their
magnificent crown you can find the smallest trees. Their seeds
should be taken by the wind to fertile places."
Ana Aslan had many personal ideas, one of which was to start
a medical school in Timisoara, the western Romanian town situated
on the banks of the Bega channel.
It was here that she met Dr. Pius Branzeu, a student under
the famous Professor Loriche. She discussed his methods of
Novocain treatments on post-operative incisions and later
learned about Dos Ghali's method of intravenous administration
of Novocain in patients with bronchial asthma.
Ana Aslan passionately studied Professor C.I. Parhon's work
as well. After 30 years of clinical and experimental observations,
Parhon reached the conclusion that aging is a disease and
that it can be treated. In 1908 he published his observations
of two cases of senile ostemalacia and in 1925, he introduced
the term Ilikibiology, meaning morphological, chemical and
physiological variations related to age.
"I taught at the medical clinic in Timisoara and learned
the basic notions of gerontology. I read all the works of
Marinescu, Parhon, Metchnikoff, Charcot and Burger (the principle
disciples of gerontology) and I also maintained a relationship
with Dr. Parhon. Since 1946, he was the Director of the Institute
of Endocrinology in Bucharest and the chair of the Endocrinology
Department of the University there. I returned to Bucharest
once a month just to talk to him."
"Parhon was a pioneer in gerontology. He treated aging
patients with extracts of epiphysis, gonads, insulin and vitamin
E, in 1909 he published the first book in the world of endocrinology
and in 1955 published the book Biology of Ages, which was
translated all over the world."
"Parhon had a universal mind and was a wonderful man.
Our privileged relationship was in the field of gerontology;
this was where his heart was. He believed in rejuvenating
and ardently maintained that life cannot be only a one-way
direction. He knew everything, botany, zoology, endocrinology,
psychiatry and anthropology. His mind was like an encyclopaedia!
Above all, Parhon was a man of great generosity and dedication.
He sacrificed many things for medicine, even including some
family relationships, he was quite different from Danielopolu
but without the two, I would not be what I am now!"
In 1946, Aslan published her first research on Novocain, The
Novocain Action on the Respiratory Rate when injected in the
Human. "After the first results with Novocain injections
in the vascular embolias, I tried this treatment on patients
with arthosis and those with a tendency to ankylosis. Because
these diseases are chronic, I administered each with more
injections. With great joy, I noticed an improvement in the
local symptoms, and even more importantly, a great improvement
in their overall general condition. Before the treatments,
the patients avoided any movement due to pain, and then they
were willing and wanting to walk, sit up and read, and talk.
The biggest reward was to notice an increase in their interest
in life and for their families."
"These improvements also came along with much more restful
sleep for the patients. This led me to the hypothesis on Novocain's
general effect on the neurophysical system. Maybe it had effects
here as well as locally. I noted these observations for two
years until I could test my hypothesis."
"On April 15, 1949, a GI Medical student with arthrosis
arrived in our clinic. For 3 weeks he'd had terrible pains
and blocked articulation. I explained my idea about Novocain
to him and after receiving his permission, gave him an intra-arterial
injection with 1% Novocain. His knee was mobile immediately
and he could flex his leg outright. What happiness! I administered
this treatment for another two weeks, after which he completely
recovered."
"There was a nice park close to the clinic in Timisoara,
and one April afternoon while I was there I noticed an old
man. He was leaning on his crutches and when sitting down,
he laid his head in his hands. I later saw him in one of Van
Gogh's paintings! He embodied despair. My attention then turned
to an old couple who was walking with small steps, patiently
leaning on one another. They did not talk, but their dry wrinkled
faces told enough about their many years. Their gait was a
symbol of their fraternity and support they have given, and
will continue to give, to each other for the rest of their
lives."
"I then said to myself, why can't I help these people?
Why do they have to suffer such pain and suffering? If this
young man had started to walk after the injections I had given
him, maybe these people could be helped? They could smile
again and regain their own sure steps." "I did not
go to Bucharest at the end of the week as I had been doing
on the weekends.
Instead I returned to this park. All I could focus on was
old people. I was overwhelmed with age; I began to feel an
unusual sympathy. Something had touched me deep down, and
I began my quest. At night I thought about the Novocain shots
Loriche had administered around wounds. If such rapid healing
occurred, couldn't it benefit these people as well? I became
obsessed." "After doing pharmacodynamic research
in 1946 with Dr. Danielopolu, this conviction crystallised
in my mind between 1947-1949. I was using Novocain to treat
bronchial asthma according to Dos Gahali's method and to treat
arthritis and emboias according to Loriche's method."
"I practically ran to Bucharest with my results! Dr.
Danielopolu advised me to share this with Parhon immediately.
His words to me were, "Novocain has an effect on aging.
You should carefully carry out this research. Come back to
Bucharest and lead our Experimental Department here. I'll
make all the arrangements, just say you'll come." I agreed
and in a few months I was back in Bucharest."
This adventure that began in Timisoara continued in Bucharest.
But it was here that the struggle really began. In order to
clear up the Novocain mechanism of action in arthritis, Aslan
followed its effects on experimental arthritis induced by
formaldehyde (according to Seyle-Brownlee's method).
"In the fall of 1949, I wanted to present my first observations
to the Academy of Medicine. It was then that I realised the
envy-taking place among my colleagues, and how it was increasing.
In a chorus, Milcu, Lupu, Nicolau and Benetato were adamantly
against it. "You need at least 25 cases" they argued.
Finally, they refused to include my research in the agenda
being set for the Academy's meetings. It doesn't matter, I
told myself, Alzheimer presented his observations on a single
case, and Hodgkin on only six!"
"After Parhon left the Institute of Endocrinology, those
that followed caused me much frustration. (They did, however,
do one good thing, for which I want to thank them, they agreed
with my resignation and return to Bucharest)."
"With the passing of time I learned that the opposition
made me more and more ambitious. I knew that I was right and
I had to prove it. Life would be too dull without controversy,
and in my case, unfortunately, the controversies overstepped
the bounds of academic dispute. All of this doesn't matter
now, I forgave them many years ago."
"It was the co-operation with Parhon that does matter.
He was very good to me and was convinced by the results I
was obtaining. He was my moral support, and it is because
of him that I continued with my research."
As soon as Aslan began publishing and sharing her method,
more and more people, most of them ill, started to visit the
Institute. The Institute, situated in an anonymous place,
gradually became the Mecca of the ill.
Scientists came to learn from her as well as to undergo treatment.
Some remained perplexed, listening to the testimonies of the
old people who had regained the joy of life, returned to their
favourite activities, found peace in their battles with insomnia.
More importantly, they found their place in society, a society
who before had alienated and repulsed by them. Their spoken
and written words are proof of the effectiveness of her treatment,
method and product, Gerovital-H3, which had bought so much
relief and hope to the suffering.
Many physicians came to the Institute for training in gerontology
and geriatrics, and to learn Aslan's method. In return, Aslan
visited them in their countries to acknowledge and celebrate
their results. With special appreciation, she remembered Dr.
Marion Bucker Bode of Germany. Besides leading a center of
geriatrics, she also had serious concerns for research. She
talked also of Dr. Pop Michel of Cyprus, these and many others,
were considered her disciples in the fight against aging.
Some of the many testimonials
After visiting the Institute in September of 1958, Academician
R. Bacov, Director of the Pavlov Institute in Moscow, wrote,
"I found the activity carried out at the Institute of
Professor Aslan to be very interesting. The problem they focus
on fascinates the world. I think Professor Aslan has found
a real way to maintain the activity of the nervous system
and to prolong the normal functioning of the entire organism.
I myself am convinced that Aslan's method is a success. Thank
you for the wonderful demonstration of your results."
Robert A. Homes, MD, chief physician in a hospital in Washington
D.C., confessed that he learned much from Aslan's revolutionary
treatment. Hollings E., Senator S.C., Washington D.C., expressed
his admiration for a real mother nature, as well as Senator
Howard W. of Nevada, who remarked on the wonderful work in
such an important field.
Professor Aslan thoroughly studied and diversified the research,
a fact that was noted in the pharmacology department of Harvard
University as well.
These were world-wide acknowledgements, the Minister of Health
in Belgium, Nameche Louis, stated that he was "impressed
by the social action developed by Aslan and convinced of the
prophylactic results."
Ever since 1966, Lord Amulree of London appreciated "the
work Aslan developed in order to cover all of Romania with
a network of care centers for the elderly. These could very
well be imitated by other countries and I hope this wonderful
work by Professor Aslan will be very wide spread."
Dr. Iderwal de Carvalbo, Professor of psycho-pathology at
the Sao-Paulo University in Brazil was "full of admiration
for all he saw and felt at the Institute when he personally
noted the stateliness of Aslan's work and the magnificent
results in treating aging with Gerovital-H3 and Aslavital."
From the Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology of the University
of Florence, Italy, Professor Francesco Antonini, "admired
the work carried out with such intelligence." A letter
of gratitude from Professor Mario Giacorezzo from the Medical
Clinic of Rome University, thanked Aslan "for this masterly
lesson."
Journalists, writers and poets whose fantasy took them beyond
the limits of reality soon visited the Institute seeing the
results in old patients. For example, Galina Seredrinkova
wrote, "Faust's dream, the alchemists fight for life
has been solved by the well known woman of our century, Ana
Aslan. The gratitude and enthusiasm towards her talent and
her deep scientific thinking includes anybody between the
walls of her institute."
A news journalist by the name of A. Umar, considered Aslan's
results not only prestigious for Romania, but for the entire
world.
During her life, Aslan received thousands of letters. They
came from the most remote parts of the world. Sometimes the
letters were directed with no address, but a simple "Ana
Aslan" on the envelope. The country and address was not
necessary, the entire world knew of her! In most letters,
patients expressed their thanks, for regaining strength, hope
and confidence. They expressed their gratitude for her competence
and devotion.
She had four secretaries who helped her answer each and every
one. They had a difficult job, working in the rhythm and time
that Aslan demanded. She did not consider this impressive
correspondence as simple politeness and responsiveness, but
rather as a constitutive part of her own medical activity
as a doctor. The exchange with research institutes, such as
the "Institute of Aging" in the United States and
in Kiev, meant contact.
From her travels and fame, Aslan made friendships everywhere.
Many of them became patients and followed her treatment for
years and years. One of these was Mr. Hans Matguart of Germany;
he was a man of remarkable culture, honour and honesty. After
he learned of Aslan's death (a month after she had actually
died), he took a plane to Bucharest. He went to her grave
and quietly remained there for some time, as homage and out
of respect.
He went on to address me; "It is a pleasure for me to
speak about Professor Ana Aslan, as she was, in my opinion,
a world authority and a remarkable person. My first encounter
with her took place in 1982. Ana was herself an old woman,
but yet maintained all of her mental capacity. Her long medical
experience proved very useful. Ana was also being treated
with Gerovital-H3. Her intellectual capacity, maintained to
the end of her life, is proof of the drug's success."
"I had begun my treatment (Aslan's therapy) on August
12, 1980 and continued without an interruption.
She herself personally cared for me. She examined me and decided
on which type of therapy. For ten years, at regular intervals,
I have been treated with Gerovital-H3 by injections and by
pills. I am now 76 years old; therefore I started therapy
when I was 65. Since then, I have continued leading negotiations
in my field and making all the necessary decisions about my
activities. Would I still if I wasn't using Gerovital-H3?
I definitely say no!"
"In the last 10 years I have accomplished my daily tasks
with great joy. When we think that the normal man retires
at 65 or earlier, then these 10 years are even more astonishing.
I have held honorary positions and been appointed several
times as president of different organisations. This activity
is proof of my capacity. It should also be mentioned that
in the last 10 years I have also had no serious disease, more
proof of healthy conditions due to Aslan's therapy."
"Throughout these 10 years I have often talked with others
in this long term treatment, and not once have I heard a negative
word. Of course this therapy cannot make miracles alone. Positive
results only appear when regular treatments are given and
the physician one is dealing with is seen regularly."
"Above all, I hope her knowledge will be spread to all
the people in this country and to all of human-kind."
During this visit, Mr. Matquart was intrigued and puzzled
about why her death had not been immediately announced. "Ana
belonged to mankind, not only to Romania. Surely, Belu cemetery
would have been full with people from all over the world?"
But under communism, the people of Romania had no possibility
to taste and to know of Ana Aslan's international success.
Biological basis of Gerovital-H3 treatment
Ana Aslan at the Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics in
Bucharest, Romania experimented with Gerovital-H3 between
1951 and 1958. Since 1951, Aslan stopped the use of hydrochloric-procaine;
the research results materialised a different product with
a new formula- Gerovital-H3. In the new formula, adding benzoic
acid to procaine and inducing a greater access of procaine
into the hydrophobic cellular compartments modified the pharmacological
action of hydrochloric-procaine.
Between Gerovital-H3 and hydrochloric-procaine there is a
difference of pharmacological action. Hazard showed that the
procaine-based product has a stability of 6-months, whereas
the Aslan product has a much increased stability of 2 years
and 6-months.
Once introduced into the human body, the procaine molecule
is hydrolysed by procainestherase into two metabolical fractions;
Paraaminobenzic acid (PABA) and Diethylaminoethanol (DEAE).
The absorption of the two metabolites is better when they
result from the in-vivo hydrolysis of Gerovital-H3 than administered
as such. The absorption takes place in a competitive manner,
which means that the two metabolites compete for the active
sites or mechanism that govern the absorption. The DEAE's
absorption is particular to the brain as compared to other
organs.
The procaine from Gerovital-H3 has a greater capacity of wadding
the medium (pH), due to benzoic acid, reducing the degradation
speed of the product. DEAE splits into Ethanolamine, Glycine
and Urea. Ethanolamine enters the synthesis cycle of Choline
and then acetylcholine. In the case of Gerovital-H3, the chromatographic
techniques showed that there are intact procaine molecules
in the blood and heart of experimental animals 6 hours after
the product was administered. There are two possible explanations
for the important difference in the procaine metabolism.
It is considered that hydrochloric-procaine is differently
metabolised depending on the pH of the solution. At a pH of
7, the procaine is permeated "en mass" into the
blood, but at a pH of 3.3 the procaine is gradually set free
from the blood.
An acid solution will decrease the sudden release of the substance,
a quality that Gerovital-H3 possesses. Cohen (1) shows that
benzoic acid will arrange itself in space in such a manner
that it protects the procaine molecule at its weak point from
the action of procainestherasis. Important are also the K
ions, which amplify the procaine action at the level of the
nervous, and the muscular system (2). Gordon (3) has compared
Gerovital-H3 and Procaine and found that there are significant
statistical differences in favour of Gerovital-H3. The experiments
carried out by Aslan (4) showed significant differences between
Gerovital-H3 and Procaine inducing the vascular conditioned
and unconditioned reflexes in old patients.
Gerovital-H3 acts upon the human body both under the form
of an intact molecule and through the hydrolysis products
PABA and DEAE, which participate in the regulation of the
intermediary metabolism.
Gerovital-H3 favours the acetylcholine synthesis and it is
a source of folic acid. In fact, a series of researches suggest
the hypothesis that procaine, by means of the PABA, can stimulate
the intestinal flora and the production of folic acid, vitamin
K and tyramine. The cellular effect of the Aslan product bears
different characteristics and dimensions regarding the organ
in question and its role within the body. The improvement
of the superior nervous activity presents a particular importance.
Yau (4) made a pharmacological study upon Gerovital-H3 and
summarised its basic mechanism as:
*Gerovital-H3 competitively and reversibly inhibits monoamineoxidase
(MAO).
*Gerovital-H3 acts as an antidepressive through the modification
of the monoamine level in the brain.
*Gerovital-H3 is very selective in the oxidase desamination
inhibition.
*Gerovial-H3's oxidative desamination of monoamine is done
in such a way as to eliminate the hyper-blood-pressure peak,
so typically present after administering of other MAO inhibitors.
*Gerovital-H3 is considered to play a role in maintaining
the physiological status of the nervous cell membrane, restoring
the equilibrium between the processes of excitation and inhibition
at the level of the cortical and subcortical systems.
*Gerovital-H3 exerts an important regulatory action upon the
nervous vegetative centers. Further experiments reveal procaine's
anabolic action. Studies on Infusoria (Colpidium colpoda and
Vorticella) show the proliferation of cells as a result of
a weak procaine solution (6).
The investigations on rats drew the attention of procaine's
anabolic affects improving the quality of the hair. Berger
obtained similar results with 6mg procaine / Kg bodyweight
in a study on 3-month old rats (7). On the other hand, Verzar
used 25mg procaine / Kg bodyweight (the amount which inhibits
oxidoreduction) and did not notice any modification (8). In
order the solve these contradictory results, Aslan initiated
a study on 1800 white rats treated with Gerovital-H3 (9).
The results pointed out an improved general tropicity, an
increased resistance to pulmonary disease and less myocardial
modifications. Fewer spontaneous tumours occurred in the treated
group as compared against the controls.
Gerovital-H3 action upon the lipid mechanism is reflected
by the lypotrope, heparinoid and lypoconverting characteristic
(10). Aslan's procaine-based product exerts its effects on
the atherogenesis process by several mechanisms:
*Gerovital-H3 diminishes the level of plasmatic lipoproteins
and lipids.
*Gerovital-H3 exerts an effect on the erythrocyte membrane
(an increase in membrane fludity and a protection against
osmotic hemolisis).
*Gerovital-H3 has an anti-oxidant mechanism that reduces the
oxidative stress exerted on the membrane structure. Russu
et col. Found that Gerovital-H3 exerts an inhibition on the
generation of the superoxide radical in a non-enzymatic system
(11).
It has been shown that Gerovital-H3 action on the lipid metabolism
results in modifications in the serum total cholesterol, changes
of the lipoprotein fractions ratio and changes to the unsaturated
fatty acids content (11).
The international confirmations
Mention must be made of the fact that the research concerning
Gerovital-H3 therapy has been simulated in over 500 medical
and scientific publications.
The experiments utilising the original Aslan product and method
confirm the efficiency and efficacy of Gerovital-H3.
The data presented at the 10th Congress of the International
Association of Gerontology in Jerusalem in 1975, and at the
European Congress of Clinical Gerontogy in 1977, made available
new evidence of the efficiency of Gerovital-H3.
The work of the special session at the Jerusalem Congress
regarding old age pharmacology were dominated by the research
focussed upon the mechanism of Gerovital-H3 action.
A special interest was generated by the mechanism of Gerovital-H3's
action, particularly from several American scientists who
presented papers of double-blind placebo controlled trials.
Among them was Professor William Zung from Duke University,
North Carolina who in his study applied the treatment for
28 days on his patients who were suffering from depression
(12).
One group of patients aged 60 were submitted before, during
and after the treatment to a battery of psychological tests.
Professor Zung, a well known and respected author of psychological
tests, proved the Gerovital-H3 efficiency in the treatment
of depression. Within the same session, the American authors,
M. Kurland and M. Hayman from Palm Springs, California, presented
the double-blind results performed with Gerovital-H3 on 63
patients suffering from depression and aged 45 to 80 (33 using
Gerovital-H3 and 30 using placebo). Under observation there
were several types of depression; manic-depression, reactive
depression, organic cerebral depression, chronic reactive
depression and alcoholic depression.
The results proved that Gerovital-H3 efficiency in all the
tests applied, the differences between the two groups showed
a great statistical significance (p>0.001).
Particularly valuable results were communicated by McFarlane
MD who proved that Gerovital-H3 inhibits MAO (13). It is a
known fact that the MAO levels increase with advancing age
(14). McFarlane certifies the lack of any adverse reactions
with Gerovital-H3 and he also confirmed that Gerovital-H3
is a reversible and competitive MAO inhibitor.
The success enjoyed by Gerovital-H3 at the Jerusalem International
Congress in June 1975, was remarked upon by Professor Nathan
Shock (USA) in the closing speech of the Congress. That recognition
came shortly after another world-wide known gerontologist,
Alex Comfort (England), in an article published in the magazine
"Mechanism of Ageing and Development", where he
made positive remarks upon Gerovital-H3 and Aslan's method.
On the occasion of the International meeting "Medizinischewoche"
in Baden Baden, Germany in November 1983, whilst concluding
the Gerontology and Geriatrics section, Professor Paul Luth
said "The Aslan method and treatment represent the most
efficient therapeutic producure in Geriatrics." (15)
Aslan's method of prophylactic and curative treatment with
Gerovital-H3
As a medical professor from 1947 to 1949, Ana Aslan was inspired
by the works of Lorich. Aslan started administering procaine
in cases of arthritis and in trophic troubles of the extremities
with sometimes spectacular results (1).
This is what Ana Aslan declared from the very beginning; "After
one injection in the femural artery given to a patient with
embolism at the level of the inferior extremity, I noticed
the almost instantaneous disappearance of pain. Then, for
the first time, I had the idea of applying the same method
in certain diseases with acute pain, which produce immobilization
and thus long-lasting work incapacity."
Like other great discoveries, the clinical observation facts
did not fail Aslan, as they represented the beginning of a
period of original and fundamental studies which contributed
to the prophylaxis and treatment of aging and chronic disease.
Thus, in that period, another clinical observation was pointed
out by the patients who stated that after the injections (given
into the artery of the extremities), pain was relieved in
all the body. "I believe, a general effect was obtained,"
concluded Aslan.
Starting in 1949, Aslan began applying her treatment in a
nursing home. Besides an improvement of the local phenomena,
she noticed that the physical and psychical state of the old
men was becoming better. That was the time when Aslan initiated
experimental research which had particularly favourable effects
on all the treated animals.
I want to emphasize that, besides introducing the procaine
treatment against the aging process and degenerative illnesses
Aslan had other original contributions lying at the base of
the treatment and method bearing her name.
*Aslan introduced long-term procaine therapy.
*Aslan used procaine in intramuscular injections according
to her own schedule, which represented a true therapeutic
novelty, since previously procaine had only been used for
local anaesthesia, or in short-term cures injected either
subcutaneously, intravenously or, more rarely, intra-arterially.
The special moment arrived when procaine was prepared to the
new formula now known as Gerovital-H3. This is more active
and has practically no side effects if administered in therapeutic
doses.
Gerovital-H3 was experimented with at the Institute of Gerontogy
and Geriatrics in Bucharest, between 1951 and 1958. In 1957,
Aslan started comparative investigations to establish the
effectiveness of the oral treatment. To achieve the same results
like in the parentral treatment, the oral dose has to be doubled.
I must also state that at the Bucharest Institute, to evaluate
the effects of Gerovital-H3 treatment, since 1952, a clinical
study has been initiated. This study, due to the thousands
of patients observed over a 25 year time scale makes this
clinical study unique in the world. Gerovital-H3 is a complex
drug acting like the procaine molecule with its two hidrolisis
products; PABA and DEAE. The addition of benzoic acid, potassium
and disodium phosphate increase the effects of Gerovital-H3
biotrophic treatment.
Indications for Gerovital-H3
Gerovital-H3 is indicated for people older than 40 years in
order to retard the aging process and as a preventative and
curative treatment for chronic degenerative diseases. Gerovital-H3
has been shown to be efficacious in all the following:
*moderate and light depressive states.
*in troubles concerning attention, concentrating, cognitive
processes and in balancing the neurovegative distinies.
*chronic fatique syndrome.
*sleep disorders.
*tegument distrophias, trophic ulcers, atonic wounds.
*osteoarthritis, degenerating rheumatism, osteoporosis and
during fracture consolidation periods.
*sexual management and improving sex drive
*Gerovital-H3 is an active anti-aterogenous factor and recommended
in cerebral and peripheral artherosclerosis and in the treatment
of post-infarct and hemiplegia consequences.
*Parkinson and Parkinson syndromes.
*Gerovital-H3 ameliorates the hair resistance and quality,
repigmentation, reduces the alopecia (hair loss), head skin
seborrhea and helps eliminate the pruritus.
*due to the inhibition on the generation of the superoxide
radical, Gerovital-H3 is a powerful antioxidant, a free radical
quencer.
Outcome of Gerovital-H3 treatment
Aslan's treatment produces a general transformation of the
organism manifested as follows:
*desire to be active and to live, better memory, enhanced
concentration ability and attention, improved optimism.
*improved affective tone and psychic and vegetative balance.
*increased self-caring abilities and exercise capacity.
*more ability to cope with the environment and increased resistance
to infections.
*balanced endocrine functions with oestrogens reappearance
and androgen reactivation.
*improved visual, auditive and olphactive acuity.
*diminished extrapyramidal rigidity, improved gait and increased
mobility.
*better skin, nails and mucous trophicity.
*hair growth stimulation with a tendency to repigmentate the
hair and a more trophic aspect.
*better blood vessel reactivity.
*the alleviation should also be mentioned of the clinical
symptoms of the chronic diseases; chronic rheumatism, atherosclerosis,
bronchial asthma, psoriasis, vitiligo, varicose ulcers.
*improves the quality of life retarding the rhythm of aging
and preventing the chronic diseases.
*improves the sex drive.
Administering method for Gerovital-H3
The long term treatment with Gerovital-H3 has been extensively
established with Aslan et col. For over 40 years at the National
Institute of Gerontogoy and Geriatrics in Romania, in compliance
with Aslan's methods.
At the beginning, Gerovital-H3 was administered only as injections.
The tolerance has always been tested before starting the treatment;
one subcutaneous injection of 1ml on the first day, followed
by an intramuscular injection of 2ml the next day.
If no local or general reactions occur, proper treatment can
be started. In the experience of more than 300,000 patients
that completed this treatment in Romania, an intolerance only
occurred in 1 in 7000 cases.
In 1957, Aslan started clinical and experimental comparative
investigations in order to establish the effectiveness of
the oral administration.
The dose of active substances had to be doubled to achieve
the same results as in the parenteral treatment. Considering
this fact and the difficulty raised by the accurate management
in certain patients, Aslan established a combined schedule
made up of both oral and parenteral approaches as follows:
*PREVENTATIVE Treatment of chronic diseases and aging consists
of 4 courses of 12 injections and 4 courses of 24 pills, ie,
one course of 12 injections over 4 weeks (ie, 3 injections
per week), a 4-week break then one course of 24 pills over
12 days (one pill twice daily between meals), a 2-week break
and then the cycle is resumed.
*Starting from the age of 40 years, the prophylactic treatment
with pills only is recommended in a series of 25 tablets during
the first 12 days, with an interval of 2 months; 1st day,
1 tablet/ day, 2-hours after breakfast, increasing to the
12th day when 2 tablets per day are taken, (again 2-hours
after meals, for example one at 10AM and another at 4PM).
There should a series of 5 treatment courses in the year,
which should be increased to 6 per year for persons over the
age of 65.
*CURATIVE Treatment in chronic diseases requires 6 course
of 12 injections, and 5 courses of 24 pills, yearly, ie, one
course of 12 injections over 4 weeks, a 2-week break, one
course of 24 pills over 12 days (one pill twice daily between
the meals); 2 week break. The cycle is then resumed.
Depending upon the outcomes the physician and patients can
either shorten or extend the breaks. The first and second
course of injections can be administered daily in order to
study the individual reactivity.
Gerovital-H3 treatment can be individualised according to
the disease/ diseases accompanying the aging and the patients
biological age.
In arteritis, actively influenced by Gerovital-H3, the route
of administration is intra-arterial. Aslan recommended the
intra-arterial route in arthrosis and arthritis, especially
when the knee joint is involved, and the intravenous route
for cerebral spasms.
Contraindications
Gerovital-H3 should be avoided by anyone suffering or utilising
the following;
*allergy or sensitivity to Gerovital-H3 (or Novocain).
*Gerovital-H3 cannot be used together with eserine or prostigmine.
*Gerovital-H3 can not be used at the same time as sulphamides.
*Gerovital-H3 should not be used with an antibacterial treatment.
Side effects
Gerovital-H3 side effects are relatively uncommon and may
occur principally only after injections, but the frequency
is very reduced (according to the statistics there is 1 case
for every 7000 patients).
The minor side effects consist of a heating sensation and
metallic taste, these effects disappear during the treatment.
The major side effects are related to the skin; macular eruption,
rash and itching which determine the interruption of the treatment
and the remake of the tolerance test (1ml injected id.) after
the eruption has disappeared. The treatment of the side effects
consist of the administration of the usual antiallergic drugs
if the eruption persists after the arrest of Gervotial-H3.
In spite of its monoamineoxidase (MAO) inhibitor character,
Gerovital-H3 does not interfere, as the convential MAO inhibitors
do, with the Tyramine from food (ed.- commonly called the
cheese affect), which means there is no known incompatibility
with Gerovital-H3 and food. The interaction with sulphamides
is because of the competition on the bacterial metabolism.
Overdose may occur only after 400mg in iv rapid injection
and the treatment is the same as for any acute intoxication.
Reference; (1). Loriche R., Lafontaine R.: De l'emploi des
injections intra-arterielle de novocaine dans les formes daouloureuses
des obliterantes. Presses Medicale, 1953, 17:327.
References
(1). Cohen S., Ditman K.S. Effects of
Gerovital-H3 on Elderly Depressive Patients. Int. Smposium
of Gerontology, Bucharest, 1972.
(2). Teitel A., Gane P., Stroescu V., Steflea D., About the
Mechanisms of Procaine. Studies of Fisiology, Bucharest, 1962,
4, 351-360.
(3). Gordon P., Fudema A., Abrams A., Effects of Romanian
and American Procaine Preparations on Certain Physiological
Aspects of Aging. Gerontologist II, 1962, p.9, Gerontologist,
1965, 20, 2, p114-150.
(4). Ana Aslan; Gerovital-H3 Therapy in the Prophylaxis of
Ageing. Rom. J. Geront. Geriatrics. Bucharest, 1980, 1,1 p5-15.
(5). Yau M.T. Gerovital-H3, Monoamineoxidase and Brain Monoamines.
Symposium on Theoretic Aspects of Aging, 1974, Miami, Florida.
(6). Parhon C.I., Ana Aslan, L'action de la Vitamine H1 et
H2 sur la proliferation de la cellule animale. Bull. Acad.
Rom. Bucharest, 1957, 9,1, 137.
(7). Berger P; Innocuite du traitment chronique a la procaine
chez le rat en croissance. C.R. So. Biol. 1960, 154,959.
(8). Verzar F. Note on the influence of prcaine, PABA and
DEAE on the aging of rats. Basel, 1959, Gerontology 3,6, 350-355.
(9). Ana Aslan et col. Long term treatment with Gerovital-H3
in Albino rats. J. Gerontology, 1965, 20,1.
(10). Ana Aslan, G. Enachescu. Reseaches on the Anti-thrombophilic
activity of Gerovital-H3 treatment. Rom. J. Geront. Geriatrics,
180, 1, 2, 195-246.
(11). Russu C et col. Antioxidant and lipid lowering effect
of original procaine based product Gerovital-H3. Book of abstracts.
The 16th Congress of the Internatonal Association of Gerontology,
p217.
(12). Zung W.W.K., Wang H.S. Clinical trials of Gerovital-H3
in the treatment of depression in the elderly. 10th Int. Congress
of Gerontology, 1975, Jerusalem.
(13). McFarlane MD Gerovital-H3 therapy; Mechanism of inhibition
ofmonoamineoxidase. J. of American Geriatrics Society., 1974,
XXII/8, p365-371.
(14). Robinson D.S. et al; Aging, monoamine and monoamineoxidase
levels, 1972, Lancet, 1, 0290.
(15). Luth P. Aslan therapie mit Gerovital-H3. Zeitschrift
fur Algemenmedizin, 1984, 60, 27, p1162-1164.
DISCLAIMER: ALL INFORMATION IS EDUCATIONAL AND PROVIDED UNDER
IAS TERMS AND CONDITIONS. IT DOES NOT, AND SHOULD NOT, REPLACE
THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN.
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